Improvement in devices for cleaning wells



W. F. BRUWN. Devices for Claning Wells. {40.137,529.

Paten ted April 8,`1873'.

mmmunlnlu UNITED STATES- A'rnlvfr `rauen.

WILLIAM F. BROWN, OF HAItDIN COUNTY, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF TWO THIRDSHIS RIGHT TO WILLIAM F. COOMBS AND BENJAMIN HOWSLEY,

OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN'DEVICES FOR CLEAN-ING WELLS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,529, dated April 8,1873; appl'cation tiled October 21, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,W1LLIAM F. BROWN, of the county of Hardin, in theState of Kentucky, have invented certain Improvements in a Device forCleaning Wells or Pits, of which the following is a specification:

This invention consists in a square box made of wood, about two or morefeet square and four feet long, with two partitions inside so as todivide it into nearly three equal compartments, the lower one of thesehaving four openings through it covered by valves made similar to theordinary pump, while the upper one is perforated with numerous smallholes to permit the water to pass through it and out at the holes in theside of the box. These lastnamed partitions have a small hollow pipe-boxin the center which extends up through them as high as the top of thebox. This pipe-box has a sliding bar running up through it, made to fitthe opening loosely, for the purpose of operating the shutters orfolding caps at the lower end of the box. These caps or coversv are madeof wood, in two parts, and hung to the end of the box by means of hingesso that when closed they will completely cover the end of the box. Thesecovers or caps are connected with the central bar by means of iron bailsin such a manner that when the bar is drawn up it closes the caps on thematter to be drawn up, and the bar is held in that position by aspringcatch at the top end until the box is drawn up; but when set readyto be lowered again the caps are opened, as shown in the drawing, andare so held by means of keys slipped through slotted lugs on the side ofthe box and covers until the box is sunk in the sand or mud sufficientlydeep to ll it, when the keys are drawn out and the covers closed on thedirt by means of the bar in the center of the box, as before described.The lower end of the box is also provided with additional sliding coversat the end of the folding caps, in order to prevent thin mud or sandAfrom pressing out as the covers are closed.

The object of this my invention is to provide a means by which wells orpits containing foul air may be cleaned without danger or the necessityof descending the well or pit personally, all of which I claim to haveaccomplished by means of the invention as above described.

Figure l is a sectional view of the device, showing the interiorarrangement of the several parts. Fig. 2 is also a sectional view of thelower end, showing the sliding covers at the end of the caps. i

In the drawing, A A is the box, all of which is made of wood, about twoor more feet square, and about four feet long. B B are folding covers orcaps to close the lower end of the box so as to hold the dirt. C C arekeys by which the caps are held in position when let down into the well.D D are cords by which these keys are drawn out as the box is raised. Eis the bar by which the box is raised and the caps operated or closed. FF are the bails connecting the bar with the caps. Gr G are notches inthe bar. H is a spring, by means of which the bar E is held up. I is thecord by which the bar is raised and the box drawn out of the well. J J:are partitions in the box. K K are openings through them. L L arevalves covering the openings in the lower partition. Thesevalves areintended to be used first to ventilate the lower end of the box when letdown into the water, and also to prevent the water in the upper end fromrun ning through on the dirt as it is raised up. N N are sliding coversto close the ends of the folding caps to prevent the dirt from passingout as they are closed. O 0 are clamp-screws by which they are held inplace. P is the ring and cord by which t-he box is drawn up. It is thepipe-box or chamber of the bar E. S S are openings through the sides ofthe box for the water to pass out. p

I have thus fully described the nature and object of my invention. Itsoperation is simply setting the machine as shown in the drawing, afterwhich it is let down into the well, and, when sunk into the sand or mudsuffi ciently deep to till the box, power is applied to draw it up,which will iirst draw out the keys C C and permit the caps B B to beclosed over the dirt and held in that position until the box is drawnout of thewelll, the water in the upper part of the box passing out atthe holes S S at the sides as it rises.

What I claim as new, and. desire to secure arranged, constructed, andoperated substanby Letters Patent, is tielly as and for the purposehereinbefore set The combination of the box A A with its forth. foldingcaps B B, keys C C, cords D D, bar WILLIAM F. BROWN.

E, bails F F, notches Gr Gr, spring H, cord I, partitions J J With theiropenings K K K K, Witnesses:

'valves L L, slides N N, thumb-Screws o o, JN0. J. SWAN, l

rope P, pipe-box B, and openings S S, when JAMES Z. WATKINs.

